Chapter 63 She was just lucky: "I don't want to get involved in my aunt's affairs." "I knew it long ago." ...
"I don't want to get involved in my aunt's affairs."
"I noticed it a long time ago."
Yu Lang let Bi Yun in, then got up to get dressed and wash up. Upon hearing Shen Wanqing's reluctant grumbling, he immediately covered his face with a hot towel and sullenly laughed. This was something neither she nor he wanted to get involved in.
"My aunt thinks differently from us. She remembers when you're good to her, but that's all she remembers. If you upset her again, she'll turn on you just the same way. She'll treat you the same way even if you're not good to her. I heard she even pleaded with the West Courtyard for you last time?"
"I thought you didn't know about this. Now that you do, why didn't you ask me a question? Aren't you afraid I'll actually agree?"
Shen Wanqing didn't have the habit of sleeping with her hair in a bun. Before going to bed, she had to undo her bun and braid it into a big braid, otherwise her hair would definitely be pressed under Yulang's body the next morning, which was really annoying.
She was only nineteen years old, a young woman in the prime of her life. Coupled with Shen Wanqing's seemingly dewy and sparkling eyes, which were actually blurry from not having washed her face, Lord Yu was simply blinded by greed and couldn't help but like her no matter what.
She reached out and wrapped her arms around Grandma Shen's waist without saying a word. She just stood there in the small side room, whining and clinging to her, refusing to let go. This made Biyun, who was making the bed, unable to stand it any longer, so she simply turned around and ran away.
Walking to the veranda outside and seeing the maid still waiting expectantly, she steeled herself and deliberately confronted her mistress for the first time: "Miss Fuzhu, you've come too early. Our master is busy right now. Once he's finished, the mistress will naturally come over."
"Biyun, what are you shouting for?"
Hearing Biyun talking outside, Yulang realized that the person who was making the bed was no longer in the room. He turned around and looked out the window. "Fuzhu, don't listen to Biyun's nonsense. Go back and tell the old lady that I was doing your eldest mistress's eyebrows and that she would come over after I finished."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Biyun was already embarrassed enough by running away because she couldn't stand the dog food, and this person still had to add another sentence. It was hard for Fuzhu not to think dirty thoughts. "What do you mean by drawing my eyebrows? With your hands like that, why would you do my makeup? I'm not going out today so you can mess with me."
Shen Wanqing punched Yulang's chest twice with seven or eight tenths of her strength, but Yulang didn't budge, and Shen Wanqing's wrists ached from the impact. Unable to beat him, she could only stomp on his shoe again before turning around and sitting down in front of the dressing table, calling Chunqian in to comb her hair.
Is it obvious?
"Ever since your aunt asked you to help her find a match, how long has it been? Have you ever brought it up yourself? If I still can't tell, I'm too stupid."
Shen Wanqing could seamlessly continue what she had just said, even if it was abrupt. Looking at him through the dressing mirror, Shen Wanqing still found it amazing how he could so easily develop such a rapport with another person. It was truly strange.
"That……"
“You still have to go. If you don’t go now, the old lady will send someone to urge you.”
Yu Lang knew how troublesome matchmaking was, of course, but he had no choice. If Shen Wanqing had asked him this before yesterday, he would have definitely said that if he didn't want to, he wouldn't go. Originally, Fu Xuan was an elder and an aunt, so this matter shouldn't have been his and Shen Wanqing's responsibility to get involved.
But since she had just acted foolishly in front of her mother yesterday, Shen Wanqing couldn't afford to offend everyone in the family. Since pleasing her mother-in-law was useless now, she had to make the old lady happy instead.
"Alright, I knew you'd say that." Shen Wanqing understood this perfectly well, but she just wanted to ask one more question, and now that she had, she felt much better.
"That's what I think too. We need to make the old lady happy."
"It's about showing respect, it's about showing respect. Don't let it slip when you're in front of the old lady."
"Do you really think I'm stupid? Don't you know what I'll be like in front of the old lady? Stop nagging about this."
After they had their hair styled, changed their clothes, washed up, and put on makeup, breakfast was served. When the two of them came out of the side room, no one could tell that anything was amiss. However, Biyun looked a little embarrassed and busied herself with extra attentiveness.
"Your master isn't angry with you, don't worry." Biyun is a thoughtful and meticulous person; this young woman in her twenties is more thorough in her work than many older women.
If it had been Qing Shuang or Chun Qian who were joking with the two of them today, they would have just said it and wouldn't have taken it to heart at all.
But Biyun was different. She was also being urged on by Fuzhu, and the man inside didn't seem to care at all, so she blurted out a few strange things in a moment of anger.
"Madam is a magnanimous person. I was too presumptuous just now, and I blurted out whatever came to mind without thinking."
"So your great-grandmother is so kind, then I'm just petty?"
"I don't know if you're petty, Master. I only know that the eldest mistress treats me well."
Some people need rules and regulations to be managed properly, while others don't need a heavy hand; a few words of advice are enough for them to understand. Biyun is that kind of person; a few words are enough, and saying more is unnecessary.
Shen Wanqing has never had the habit of eating breakfast. Everything else has been fine since she arrived, but eating in the morning is a real headache. She can't skip it, but she doesn't really enjoy it either, so she can only sit with Yulang, watching him eat while she dawdles.
"Normally you can do as you please with the eldest madam, but eat quickly today. Don't dawdle. We've finally gotten your appetite back, and the people from the main courtyard are here to urge you to come over."
"It won't be that fast, just eat yours."
Yu Lang's mouth seemed to be blessed; before the two could even finish their breakfast, another nanny arrived at the main courtyard. As soon as she entered, she smiled warmly at Chen Wanqing, saying that the old lady had told her that she had to go over there right now.
Shen Wanqing subconsciously turned her head to look at Yu Lang. Yu Lang was laughing so hard that he almost choked on his soy milk. When he saw her staring at him with an innocent expression, he raised his eyebrows at Shen Wanqing and said, "I told you, why didn't you believe me when someone urged you to come?"
Yu Lang had to go to Akdun in the morning. Last night, Shen Wanqing had told him about Dai Jiashi's companionship these past few days. The relationship between the two families was more than just a Zuo Ling and a Xiao Qi Xiao. He had to be very careful about joining the firearms battalion, but he couldn't keep it from everyone.
Akdun was a cavalry captain under his command, and if he was doing well, Akdun would benefit as well. Yulang could only give him a heads-up first and use him to keep Suhe and Martai calm.
If they can get through these two years, they will have no worries about their future once they join the firearms battalion. If they can't make it through, they can find another better opportunity, which is not a bad thing. They have their own choices, and it is also a way for them to screen out the people they can trust again.
He didn't need to go to the main courtyard to escape the disaster. Grandma Shen had no temper left. She finished the half steamed dumpling in her bowl, handed the sweet wine with egg that she had just scooped into the bowl and taken a sip to Yu Lang, and then resignedly got up and took Chunxian and Qingshuang to the main courtyard.
“Mother, what time is it? Why are you still chanting Buddhist prayers? The people around the old lady have gone to my brother’s place several times already.”
“So what if he goes? What does it have to do with me? Serving Buddha requires focus and perseverance. I’ve told you this so many times, but you never take it to heart.”
Yesterday evening, Yulang stormed up to Niohuru and flew into a rage. Afterwards, no one from either the main courtyard or the west courtyard came to ask him a single question. Everyone in this household is a snob. Seeing that Shen Shi was in charge of the household and Yulang had gained the Crown Prince's favor in the palace, they were terrified of offending them.
As long as you are not afraid, the more arrogant they are, the less you should lower your head. Back then, when I asked the old lady for the management rights of the East Courtyard, she refused, but in just a few years, Shumulu Shi also fell from grace.
No matter how powerful the Shen family is, if she can wait until the Shumulu family falls into misfortune, she can certainly wait until the Shen family falls into ruin. At that time, it will be uncertain who will be in charge of this family.
“Don’t be so arrogant because your sister-in-law is powerful now. She only benefited because the second wife fell from grace. The second wife fell from grace because His Majesty investigated usury, not because your sister-in-law was capable of doing anything. You are my daughter. Don’t be so short-sighted as to fawn over her just because she’s doing well. You’ll only embarrass me.”
There's some logic to what she said. If Fangyi were two or three years younger, she might have thought her mother's words made sense.
But she's not young anymore. Just a few days ago, she went out with Shen Wanqing to inspect the fields and shops. Shen Wanqing took Fangyi with her wherever she went. She didn't say much to her, but Fangyi had her own eyes and mind. She would see and silently remember.
“Mother, if Second Aunt is really as you say, and my eldest sister-in-law has no ability at all, then why did the old lady give the power of managing the household to my eldest sister-in-law instead of you after Second Aunt fell from power? Why did my eldest sister-in-law get this benefit instead of you?”
"You bastard!"
Fangyi's original intention was half misunderstanding and half unable to keep her true feelings to herself, but in Niohuru's eyes it became a blatant provocation. Her mind was buzzing and she could hardly think straight. By the time she realized what was happening, she had already raised her hand and slapped Fangyi.
In Manchu families, girls were considered almost adults at eight or nine years old, since they would be eligible to participate in the imperial concubine selection in a few years when they turned thirteen. At that time, they would not only have the possibility of being chosen by the emperor to enter the harem, but there was also a high chance that they would be betrothed to princes, dukes, or other nobles.
It's said that the daughters of Manchu families are precious, not only because these women mostly become housekeepers after marriage, but also because their marriages inherently carry an element of political alliance and self-interest. Therefore, for a family, maintaining a good relationship with their unmarried or remarried daughters is certainly better than becoming enemies.
Fangyi, a young woman of marriageable age, was slapped in the face by Niohuru in front of several maids and nannies under the eaves. This was no joke.
The wet nurse immediately rushed over and pulled Fangyi behind her, saying, "What are you doing, Madam? If there's anything wrong with the young lady, you can teach her yourself. If you can't teach her well, you can complain to the old lady. The young lady's face is so precious, how can you just hit her like that?"
"I'm not..." Fangyi was her own daughter, and Niohuru was only acting out of rage. Now that she realized what had happened, she regretted it. But seeing Fangyi standing behind the wet nurse, not even glancing at her, she felt a chill run down her spine.
"Go to the main courtyard if you want, I'm not going anywhere today." When Niohuru's stubborn temper flared up, no one could sway her. She patted off the non-existent dust on her cloak, straightened her back, and raised her head.
"When it's time to worship Buddha, don't come to the Buddha and disturb my practice." After saying that, he turned and entered the Buddha hall, ignoring Fangyi standing outside with tears streaming down her face.
Shen Wanqing was unaware that Niohuru had stirred up trouble again. Just as she reached the main courtyard gate, she heard someone calling her from behind. When she turned around, she saw Fangyi with a handprint on her face.
"What happened? How did this happen?"
“Sister-in-law, I saw that the old lady sent someone to the east courtyard to look for you, but I didn’t know what it was about, so I advised my mother to come to the main courtyard to see you, so that she could also calm things down with you. My mother refused to come, and she was the one who slapped me.”
………………
Fangyi was a smart girl who understood reason and was also a little shrewd. She knew to advise her mother that it was wise to be pragmatic and that she should cultivate good relationships with whomever she was in the current situation.
The only drawback is that she's too young, and everything she does is too obvious and deliberate. At this moment, she came here with this slap mark not because she really needed to know what happened in the main courtyard, but simply to tell herself that her sister-in-law was on her side.
"The old lady asked me to come over because a matchmaker has come, probably to arrange a marriage for my aunt."
It was scheming, but Shen Wanqing didn't think it was anything wrong. Whatever her reasons, it was all for herself. People live for themselves, after all. If she had a mother like Niohuru, she would have found a way out for herself as soon as possible.
"Don't let the old lady see your face so red, she'll be heartbroken. I don't know what happened yet, why don't you go back and take Pusa Bao to play in the east courtyard? I'll tell you what happened when I get back, okay?"
"Okay, I'll listen to my sister-in-law."
Fangyi came here for Shen Wanqing's sake, and now that she has caught up with her and expressed what she wanted to say, she doesn't care whether she enters the main courtyard or not.
Fangyi obediently turned and went back to the east courtyard. Shen Wanqing watched her walk away before stepping into the main courtyard. She had only taken a few steps into the main courtyard when she saw the old lady's maid walking towards her.
Shen Wanqing wanted to laugh but dared not, looking at her frantic pace. She couldn't understand how this family's attitude could change so quickly.
Whether it was because they seemed to be managing the Hesheli family affairs in a seemingly proper and orderly manner, making them feel like they were a lucky star descended from heaven, or because Yulang repeatedly gained favor with the Crown Prince and their status rose accordingly, Shen Wanqing couldn't tell for a moment, or perhaps she didn't need to make such a clear distinction.
“Madam, the matchmaker brought letters from both families today to propose marriage. The old lady is undecided and wants you to carefully choose one for her.”
"How can I, as a junior, make such a decision for my aunt? No, no..."
"The old lady said that as long as the eldest mistress can do her best in this matter, from now on, as long as the old lady is alive, the eldest mistress can peacefully worship Buddha in the East Courtyard."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com